This invention provides improved methods for combustion synthesis of
carbon nanomaterials, including fullerenes, employing multiple-ring
aromatic hydrocarbon fuels selected for high carbon conversion to
extractable fullerenes. The multiple-ring aromatic hydrocarbon fuels
include those that contain polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. More
specifically, multiple-ring aromatic hydrocarbon fuels contain a
substantial amount of indene, methylnapthalenes or mixtures thereof. Coal
tar and petroleum distillate fractions provide low cost hydrocarbon fuels
containing polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, including without
limitation, indene, methylnapthalenes or mixtures thereof.